1 March 2021, Cagayan de Oro City - (ND II Angelique Jean Maggay, City Nutrition Office) Breastfeeding room of the City Health Office (CHO), Cagayan de Oro City gets approval from the Regional Infant and Young Child Feeding (R-IYCF) Task Force.

The conduct of evaluation has been long-awaited by the City Health Office as they had requested over a year ago from the Department of Health Center for Health Development- Northern Mindanao (DOH CHD-NM). Such monitoring was not pursued due to the COVID-19 situation.

This attempt of CHO is the third time and will be the last as it has already completed all the requirements needed for a quality breastfeeding room. 

A breastfeeding room in a facility will promote and encourage breastfeeding for mothers to continue expressing their milk and/or breastfeeding their infant even at work and to accommodate clients at the workplace under Republic Act (RA) 10028 or known as the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009.

On 23 February 2021, the R-IYCF task force spearheaded by Dr. Elma C. Oclarit, Head of Family Health Cluster, and ND IV Telesfora G. Madelo both from DOH CHD-NM along with SPO3 Julie Ann Dumaog (PNP), NO IV Jacqueline Roa (PHO- Misamis Oriental) and AA Pamela Legaria, RND (DOH CHD-NM) conducted the assessment of the breastfeeding room. 

As soon as the team arrived, they had a courtesy call as received by City Nutrition Action Officer (CNAO) Nenita F. Rabe and Administrative Officer III Evelyn S. Bombeo in behalf of the Acting Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery, RN, MD, MHA.

ND IV Madelo explained the course of the evaluation. There were four (4) steps conducted, namely, the ocular visit, overview of the mission and vision, a desk review of the required documents, and task force feedbacking. 

During the ocular assessment at CHO’s breastfeeding room situated on the first floor near the entrance building, it was noted by the task force that the room is private, clean, and well-ventilated where nursing mothers can wash up, breastfeed or express their milk comfortably and store it in the refrigerator found in the room. 

Following the ocular assessment, ND IV Madelo presented the mission and vision then led their team with desk review by verifying facts presented in the documents, and feedbacking from each member.

Upon feedbacking, the R-IYCF task force challenged the City Health Office to allot a bigger space to accommodate more lactating women who wish to use the room at the same time. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the breastfeeding room was temporarily closed to avoid or lessen the transmission of the disease.

After a thorough assessment, the team declared that the breastfeeding room has passed the evaluation.

Moreover, ND IV Madelo will make a recommendation to the Regional Director for the certification of “Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace”. Also, she asked assurance for the continued strict monitoring of Executive Order (EO) 51 also called as Milk Code.

The success of the evaluation will never be realized without the efforts made by ND II Caroline A. Cabunoc with the support from the City Health Office.